FEAR NOT!

                                             

  After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

 “Do not be afraid, Abram.

 I am your shield,

 Your very great reward”.

None of us know how strong fear really is. Yet of a truth all know that fear is a very strong negative force. Even those held bound by it confess it with a strong regret, in such a way that you can clearly see that they will readily accept help if they can see any. Nobody likes fear. In some cases people are ignorant of its presence. What I mean is that they do not realize that they do things they do because they are afraid. They sight one reason or the other; but not fear. Some employ what psychologists call “Defense Mechanism”. In this case they try to dissuade you from going to that area of their lives.

What ever is the case, fear exists. And God hates fear. Some who carried out some research in the bible discovered that the bible discouraged fear 366 times. That is how much God hates fear. There are 365 days of the year and 366 days in a leap year. God took time to make such we get one “Fear not” for each day.

From our text, AFTER THIS, God said to Abram, “Fear not”. After what? After a man had conquered an army stronger than he; after he had escaped being polluted by a gift from the king of Sodom, which represented the world and her systems; after he had paid his tithe from the day’s business- for the bible recorded that he paid his tithe to a man of God called Mechizedech, after he made a wonderful confession to the king of Sodom- king of sin and abomination- and the king of righteousness. Representing the assembly of the children of God.  After this after what? The people who returned from the battle with Abraham went home singing his praise to their wives and families and his enemies lament their humiliation in the hands of this mighty man.

After this, only one person knew that fear, deep seethed fear was lurking in the heart of this great servant of God. Abraham was afraid. The fear did not show in his voice, the fear did not show on his face, the fear did not show in his physical attitude. But that fear was there. He was afraid. The truth is that many of us live like this. Deep in our hearts we are mesmerized by this torture of an enemy who we cannot just lay hand on and throw him out of our lives. He bears no muscles but he is strangling us. And quite often we don’t know how to fight him and nobody else knows it is there but us.

There are many things we fear. Yes, many things that the enemy of our souls capitalizes on to torment us. We carry them about everyday, nobody else see them. Even if they see them very few of them can be helped by anyone else but God.

That was Abraham’s state. He was afraid of something every other person around him can see but cannot help. May be that is the state of my reader. Yes, you may be afraid. There is no lion or physical danger before you. But the truth is that you will readily exchange your position for that of a lion danger or any such thing. Hence the Lord says to you also “FEAR NOT!”

Abraham had a justifiable reason to fear.  Just a few years ago he lost his father on a trip. That was after he lost his brother whose son is following him about. In the midst of the mourning he heard a voice of one he now knows as the Almighty God. This God promised to help him if only he will leave whatever he saw as an inheritance from his father and go to the place he will be shown. On getting to this place the first thing he discovered was that he came at a wrong time; there was famine in the land. As if that was not enough, there were other people living there and claiming ownership of the land. Abraham was afraid, but like most of us instead of confessing this fear to God who called him he tried to hide this and act on impulse. He went to Egypt. If you ask him on his way while going to Egypt, he may say he had a relation there or that he was playing matured Christianity. He did not want to be fanatical about his faith. There are many people today who have left the perfect way out of fear, pastors who went into a business they had no business doing, believers who refused to marry because they were afraid the man may not be able to feed them, or that they have not enough money to feed their wives, etc. I discovered during my deliverance counseling that many children of God had indulged abortion because they were afraid they might not have the means to feed the unborn child. Pastors have resisted the Spirit’s leading to move to a new location because they cannot see how they can make it there. Believers who feared that their wives may not bear children for them as she is barren, had cooked up fictitious charges against her so that the church can permit them to divorce her and take another wife. If that fails they leave the church and go ahead to divorce their wives.

Fear is the root of many negative things people do every day. So the Lord says, “FEAR NOT”.

Hurray to all partners.

The Lord has given us the breakthrough we all had prayed for in Ogbomosho.

For those of you in other countries besides Nigeria, don't worry how you pronounced it. You cannot be wrong; the city is in Western part of Nigeria, close to another mouth cracking name, Oshogbo. Try as you may,you cannot be wrong the way you pronounced it. It is  part of Oyo State of Nigeria, with its capital as Ibadan.

I know you have less problem with the last name.
If you wish to join us in another International Prayer and Revival Conference in my father land, we will be glad to have you.

I can assure you that the brethren there are expecting you. Pastor A.O. Igeh, is a provincial head of The Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), at Ogbomosho. This wonderful brother got in touch with the leadership of Pentecostal Fellowship in Nigeria(PFN) Ogbomosho chapter, and the Lord opened their heart to receive us. I know you remember Pastor Paul Ofomi in Yola, Adamawa State, and of course the PFN chairman there.

Another wonderful news is that brother Joshua Ukeh is leading the Adamawa Prayer squad to join us there. For those of you who do not know Nigeria, it is like somebody in accra Ghana, travelling for a program in Bennin Republic. I appreciate their, zeal please remember them in your prayers.
I didn't forget to mention the date; 19-23 July, 2011

Please, those wishing to travel to join us there should notify us before mid June, so that we can make propare arragement for "You know what I mean".

School of Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare is taking off 1st of June, 2011. We are tired of having to tell people to register before the first day of school. We don't have dormitories, so we will not be able to receive students living outside Port Harcourt, except they have somewhere to stay.

we need plenty of money, and you know we do; but the greatest need now is PRAYERS. So, please --please, again, pray for this program.

Those of you in Accra, I was made to understand that Brother Ebenezer travelled to U.K. but, no doubt we shall be in Ghana come August.

Thanks to you all.

You know I love you all

Emma.

Who Told You Are Finished?

Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where? (1 Sam 25:10-11)

            More than once in my life I have heard the enemy shout so loud that I could not consider what God was saying. At such occasions like I said earlier, more than once, I had decided to quit the ministry. I began to meditate on men’s wickedness and what I termed, God’s unrighteousness. I could no longer see the glorious hope God has placed before me. I was shattered but thank God who understands, and so he managed to put me together.

The statement above was made by a fellow Israelite to popular servants of God. Yes, David was a popular man of God. Nobody did not hear in those days that a little shepherd boy had killed a giant called Goliath. It was published beyond the borders of Israel. There was no way Nabal could not have heard it. There was even a musical album to the story-

Saul has killed his thousands, David has killed his tens of thousands (1 Sam 18:7)

There was a time in Israel when the rumors of wars revolved around David. In those days it was reported that David led all military campaigns in Israel and returned victorious. Young men and women talked about David and wished for an opportunity to see him. His brothers bragged about him and parents name their children after him.

No doubt, Nabal was among those who enjoyed the tales of David’s exploits over bottles of beer. For this is what lazy fools do. They spend their time discussing the exploits of mighty men. Nabal knew David and his father’s house and his statement portrayed that.

But now something happened, David had problem with his boss which amounted to his leaving the palace to live in the bush around where Nabal had his ranch. As a good man he did not resort to robbery or any such thing. Instead, he used the strength with which he went to war to protect the weak.

As always the case few people, who held you in honor, wish to still respect you. Those who have held political offices will understand me better. Those who have walked as administrative heads in big companies, but are there no more will understand me too. It is unfortunate that people only respect you for what they think you are worth.

            As time went on Nabal and people around him began to carry negative rumor about David. They no longer call him a mighty soldier in Israel but a runaway servant. Those who carried gifts to him to the palace would not give him a cup of water.

There came this day when David’s own confession was brought into question. For he said, he had never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging food (Psalm 37:24). He needed food for himself but would not resort to stealing. Fortunately, for he thought, it was a festive season, and Nabal who had benefited most from his stay in the bush had much food to share. So, he sent his servants to go to Nabal to solicit help. The text is the kindest reply Nabal could manage at the time. Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? Nabal was not saying he did not know who David was; but he meant to say that David was finished.

David, the days when you were worth anything was over. God is through with you that’s why your ministry collapsed. God is through with you that is why your business failed. That is why your marriage scattered, that’s why you are in the wilderness, that’s why you are suffering now. David can’t you see you have no more hope? You are now history. You will never be able to recover from this fall, so why waste my food on a finished man? Why waste my meat and water on a man who will soon die?

I have heard this kind of remarks from people more than once, even senior pastors. Like David, I responded to their words with cursing and at times to the point of wanting to fight.

            David called his men out and matched out to prove to Nabal he may be lost in the bush, but he still was the warrior. He wanted to kill Nabal. He swore to God and called down curse on himself for choosing to be a good man. Thank God, who intervened by sending Abigail.

            Beloved, has the enemy announced to you that you are finished. Have you received a letter, or your wife insulted openly, or has your children been molested. Has men tried to tell you that you are finished?

WAIT A MINUTE! WHO IS TALKING?

Nabal! Who is Nabal? His name alone meant fool. Do you waste your time on the comments of a fool? Bible says that if you even respond to him you turn him to a wise man (Prov.       ). Nabal does not have eternal life. In fact, he died ten days after then. That is what an unbeliever is like. That is what a wicked man is like.

Not so the wicked; they are like chaff that the wind blows away.     

(Psalm 1:4)

 Your status as a believer is a great gift which can not be quantified. Yet Nabal mocks you as if he has got something now. But time proves it. He may be driving a big car now, but wait till time has tested him. He may be living in a big house now, but wait till time has tested him. He may be having a good job now, but wait till time has tested him. No Nabal has a future.

Nabal have you fought a war before? No, all he has done is to hang around a few sheep in a bush. How dare you then challenge David? David has killed a lion, David has killed a bear. David killed Goliath and has led many victorious military campaigns. Now he is in a low level and Nabal mocks him. All that Nabal has killed are goats and sheep.

Beloved, do you waste your time on him. For the sake of a negative comment from Nabal you begin to insult your God in the name of provocative prayers. How wrong you are? That’s why God ignored your challenge. That is why he ignored your seed of faith, that’s why he ignored your seven days of fasting prayers. It is because you are responding to Nabal, God said to Adam, you may be naked alright, but who told you?

Nabal do you have the Holy Spirit? No! He speaks from the influence of beer and excess meat. He does not have any revelation. Maybe he has gathered people around through witchcraft. But you know he does not have the Holy Spirit. You know what it means to be spirit filled. Nabal does not. Why waste your time on such a one. The bible says that the Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing what is coming (2Cor 5:5).

The fact that you have the Holy Spirit is the evidence that God is not through with you. If God is not through with you, you are not finished. When he is through with you, you shall be like gold (Job 23:10).

Beloved, you are not finished. You maybe lying on the floor now, but you can speak like Micah.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (Micah 7:8)

You can boast like Habakkuk

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.  Hab 3: 17-18

Nabal may talk but who is he that says anything and it comes to pass when God has not decreed it. (Lam 3:37).

You are not finished; you are going through a process. God is preparing you for the throne. Do not let a Nabal distract you or stain your hand with his worthless blood. Do not waste your time praying for Nabal’s head. Herod offered his daughter opportunity to get half his kingdom, but her mother encouraged her to ask for their enemies head. What would you do with Nabal’s head? Hold to the Lord. Keep walking with your God.

            God has not left you. God does not abandon his project. If God has started with you, he will lead you to the end. The God who helped David in his wrestle against lions and bears, will not abandon him. The God who helped David slay a giant with a mere stone will not let him die in this wilderness. You are going through a process; the purpose is to weaken you so that your total dependence is on God but not yourself.

Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (2 Cor. 1:9)

Many of us started out in our strength. Moses started his ministry with his strength, but God took forty years to strip him of that strength. Why so long? God follows you as you would go. If Moses responded within two years, that’s okay. If he took ten years, that’s okay.

I pray that God will grant you grace to ignore Nabal and concentrate on what God is doing in your life.

Jump up on your feet and scream out,

I AM NOT FINISHED!